Vice President and Director of the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, NY Historical Society
Responsibilities
The Vice President and Library Director provides leadership in the following areas:
- Oversees and works closely with library managers on short- and long-term planning;
- Participates in N-YHS senior staff meetings and activities, including institutional strategic planning;
- Works closely with the chair of the library committee of the board of trustees;
- Works with the CEO and CFO to develop the Library annual budget;
- Represents the Library at all institution-wide meetings, committees and events, both on- and off-site;
- Represents the Library at local and national meetings and conferences;
- Spearheads fundraising activities for the Library and participates in fundraising for the institution;
- Anticipates and responds to new trends in library services and new methods of research;
- Promotes the use and preservation of the Library’s collections and oversees collection development;
- Builds relationships with the Library’s users, including scholars and faculty at academic institutions in and around New York City; and
- Develops relationships with the antiquarian book trade and with private collectors to enhance the Historical Society’s collections.
- An MLS from an ALA-accredited program; or a PhD in a field consistent with the Library’s collections;
- An outstanding record of accomplishment in librarianship and/or academia, with 10-15 years of progressively responsible management experience in an academic or research library;
- Skill and effectiveness as a fundraiser with a proven track record of writing successful grant proposals;
- Strong leadership management and team building skills, including the ability to mentor, motivate, set goals, delegate, and monitor effectiveness;
- Ability to communicate knowledge and enthusiasm for the Library collections to all constituencies, both internal and external.
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills and a strong public service orientation; and
- Public presence and energy;
- Experience in the field of Library special collections and appreciation for historical and primary source materials.